While many people train for careers in trades through programs in community colleges or technical schools, there are options outside of traditional schooling to become a skilled laborer, such as registered apprenticeships.
With registered apprenticeships — programs approved by the federal or state government where individuals obtain paid work experience, certifications and skills required to succeed in a particular field — people often learn, earn and thrive.
“You’re getting those nationally recognized credentials, you’re getting access to high wages and benefits and you don’t have to pay a dime for it,” said Rochelle Ramsey-Walker, a commercial painter and the workforce development coordinator for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 51.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are nearly 27,000 apprenticeship programs and more than 700,000 active apprentices in the United States. More than 90% of apprentices in the country maintain employment after completing their program.
“We’re gonna stick you in that job so you’re gonna be working every day,” Ramsey-Walker said. “This is your career and you’re earning your keep.”
IUPAT 51’s program operates as the Finishing Trades Institute for the DMV region, one of many apprenticeships across the area offered through a local union.
The four-year program connects participants with an employer and instruction in one of four disciplines: glass and metal work, commercial painting, drywall finishing and coating application. While working full-time, apprentices attend classes twice a month that reinforce the skills learned on the job.
According to Ramsey-Walker, apprentices start with a salary around $40,000 with health benefits, a pension, and a 10% increase each year. After graduating a commercial painter pursuing independent work could see around $60,000 a year, a glazier around $85,000 and industrial painters nearing six figures.
Adaireous Coleman Jr. is entering his third year as an apprentice electrician through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 26. Similar to IUPAT 51, the Lanham, Maryland-based chapter of IBEW operates on a learn-and-work model for its five-year program.
Fresh out of high school and unsure about what to do, the Baltimorean began working with electricians in his family on different jobs. Realizing it was something he was interested in, Coleman followed his family member’s recommendation and applied for IBEW’s apprenticeship program.
“I looked at their lifestyle…and I’m like, ‘that’s something I desire for myself,’” he said.
Hard, Dedicated Work and Having the ‘Right Attitude‘
Coleman currently works Monday to Friday at a data center in Ashburn, Virginia.
Once every two weeks he attends a class, paid for through the program. In September, the 22-year-old estimates he’ll be making around $90,000 a year, along with benefits and stability through IBEW.
In spite of trade jobs often being presented as the alternative path to furthering academic education, it can be just as rigorous. Coleman’s work days require him to wake up at 3:30 a.m. in order to have time to get ready, commute and begin working at 6 a.m.
“People fail out a lot,” he said, “so you have to just stay focused and treat it seriously.”
Program directors like Ramsey-Walker also witness turnover and emphasizes a willingness to work hard and learn as the first step to success.
“It’s easy to get in, but it’s very easy to get yourself kicked out,” Ramsey-Walker said. “We want serious people, so you don’t have to have the knowledge, but you at least have to have the right attitude.”
Plus, learning doesn’t stop after registered apprenticeships finish.
Coleman hopes to use the college credits earned through his coursework towards a degree in finance to become more well-rounded, and Ramsey-Walker also encourages continuing to learn and grow in order to be successful.
“If you want to stay employed and stay relevant in your industry, you have to be on top of your industry and how it’s shifting,” she said. “Especially as it relates to AI and technology…you need to understand how these things are at play in your industry and make sure that you have the knowledge base where you’re not getting pushed out.”
For more information on local registered apprenticeship programs, go to dclabor.org, apprenticeship.does.dc.gov, and labor.maryland.gov.
